The Snow Queen

author: Misha Hoekstra
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.81
book published: 1844
rating: 4
read at: 2016/11/10
date added: 2016/11/12
shelves: children-s, classics
review:
'The Snow Queen' by Hans Christian Anderson, translated by Misha Hoekstra, with art by Lucie Arnoux is similar to another translation I very recently reviewed, but while that one was more of an art piece, this is the one I'd want to read to a child.

The book is comprised of seven short chapters or stories. They are all linked, so I prefer chapters. The Devil has made a special mirror. It breaks and scatters aroudn the world. If the shards get in you, you don't see beautiful things, you see dark things. Little Kai and Gerda are very good friends and nothing can separate them until Kai gets a splinter of mirror in his eye. From then on, he isn't a very nice boy and sees ugliness in the world around him. He is taken away by the Snow Queen, and Gerda goes looking for him. She has adventures talking to crows and with a bandit girl. Will she ever find Kai and can they be reunited?

Each chapter has one pen and ink illustration. They are good illustrations. The story is a really readable translation. It reads like a good fairytale and this was missing in the other version I recently read. Translation can make all the difference. It may be that the other translation is more authentic, but, for me, this is more readable.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Pushkin Children's Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/2fMjswz